FOLLETT, Warren K. (1838-1897)

FOLLETT, DUNLAP, WHITING, CHANTRY

Posted By: Kathy Weaver (email)
Date: 7/12/2017 at 13:29:56

Malvern Leader
Malvern, Mills County, Iowa
Thursday, 27 May 1897

Death of Mr. W.K. Follett

Very suddenly, with scarcely a moment’s warning, Mr. Follett passed from life at his home north of town at about 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon. The sad news was speedily conveyed to town where a part of his family had just come to do some shopping. As the news spread among the large crowd upon the streets expressions of surprise and sorrow were heard on every hand, and the people seemed loth to believe that their great-hearted friend and neighbor was really dead. Since the accident that befel him on the 6th inst., he had gotten along famously and friends and physicians were congratulating themselves at the prospect of his early recovery. He was patient, hopeful and cheerful from the time of the accident and on the day of his death chatted and joked with family and friends, ate a hearty dinner and took a refreshing sleep. Shortly after he awoke the summons came, almost before his wife, in response to his call, could reach his bedside from an adjoining room. The theory of his physician as to the immediate cause of his death, is, that a thrombus or tiny clot of blood floating in the circulation caught in the valve of his heart and suddenly stopped the action of that organ.

Funeral services were held at the home at 2 o’clock Tuesday, conducted by Rev. W.J. Watson. The services were in immediate charge of Milton Summers Post G.A.R., of which the deceased was a charter and favorite member. At the cemetery the impressive ritual service of the G.A.R. was used. The attendance was very large, the old soldier element being especially noticeable. The procession to the cemetery was more than a mile in length and contained 132 vehicles. There were friends of the deceased present from every part of the county and many from adjoining counties.

For almost 50 years Mr. Follett had lived in this county and was doubtless more widely and favorably known than any other resident. His keen interest in all matters of public import, his practical knowledge of agriculture and horticulture, the open-hearted hospitality of his pleasant home, his honesty of purpose, and always frank and open attitude upon all questions - all these coupled with the fact of his genial, warmhearted nature and always courteous treatment of those which whom he came in contact, conspired to make all men his friends, and it is doubtful if, at the time of his death, he had a single enemy in the county. Here in Malvern and in his own neighborhood he will be sadly missed and sincerely mourned. He has been so actively identified with the development of the county and all matters of public welfare, was so efficient and helpful in his services and suggestions that his place in the community will be hard indeed to fill. His sorrowing wife and children are assured of the tenderest sympathies of the hosts who were pleased to claim the friendship of their departed loved one.

His children were all present at the funeral, his daughters, Mrs. Belle Whiting, of Clitherall, Minn., and Mrs. Warren Chantry, accompanied by her husband, arriving Monday. Other relatives and near friends present were Mesdames Kempton, Baldwin and Wilkins and Mr. and Mrs. Starbuck of Glenwood, Mr. and Mrs. J. Swain of Shenandoah, Mr. Will Boney of Lincoln, and Mr. Shaw Reid of Apex, Colorado.

Warren King Follett was born in Caldwell county, Mo., Jan. 22, 1838; with his parents he moved to Hancock county, Ill., at the age of five they moved to St. Lawrence county, N.Y.; from there they came to Illinois and spent a short time; then to eastern Iowa; from there to Oregon, Mo.; and in 1848 they came to Mills county, where he spent the remainder of his life, except the three years he spent in the United States service.

He was married Sept. 6, 1862, to Virginia Dunlap. To this union was born nine children - four girls and five boys - two having died when small.

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Civil War Veteran
Co B 29th Iowa Infantry